The village of Groomsport was first mapped by Thomas Raven in 1625, showing a number of houses near the harbour. Several important buildings were built in the 19th century. These included the Watch House (1821), the Parish church (1842), the Presbyterian church (1843), the first National School (1845), Groomsport House (1848) and the Lifeboat House (1858). In the latter half of the 20th century the village expanded with the building of the Springwell estate and other developments. In the early 21st century, the Cove Bay development added about 150 houses and the village now has about 750 dwellings.
Raven Map of Groomsport, 1625
North Down Museum. Copyright Ards and North Down Council. Reproduced with permission.
Main Street c.1905
Valentine Postcard. Copyright status unknown. Image courtesy of the University of St Andrews Library, ID JV-41628.
Main Street – mid 20th century
Photograph by Raphael Tuck Postcards. Downloaded, with permission, from: https://www.tuckdbpostcards.org/items/128505-main-streetSir James Hamilton commissioned Thomas Raven to map the lands he had acquired in 1604. The map shows that Groomsport was being used as a port 400 years ago. It shows boats in the harbour and a number of houses in the village.
The public house, on the left, this side of the Maxwell Hall, is a single storey building. It was replaced by a two-storey building in 1906. It is therefore likely that this photograph was taken in 1905. (In the St Andrews collection it is dated as 1903).
The First National School was built behind the Presbyterian Church in 1885. When it was replaced by the Second National School in 1895 it was converted into six dwellings. The building was demolished in the 1970s when the church was extended. The artist painted the School House from the memory of her mother who lived in one of the six dwellings.
First National School
Painting by Christine Scholes. Reproduced with permission.
Groomsport viewed from caravan park, 1962
Valentine Postcard. Copyright status unknown. Image courtesy of the University of St Andrews Library, ID JV-R-6329.
The Walter Nelson Hall
Copyright: Dan Parsons. www.parsonart.co.ukThe First National School was built behind the Presbyterian Church in 1885. When it was replaced by the Second National School in 1895 it was converted into six dwellings. The building was demolished in the 1970s when the church was extended. The artist painted the School House from the memory of her mother who lived in one of the six dwellings.
Gavin Perceval-Maxwell developed this caravan site in the grounds of Groomsport House. The Cove Bay development, which commenced in 2000, replaced the caravan site.
When the second National School (1895 to 1962) was replaced by the Primary School on Springwell Drive the building became the Presbyterian Church’s hall and was named after the Rev Walter Nelson. Although it has been extended several times, the original rectangular school building is at the heart of the hall.
Groomsport House was built in 1848 by John Waring Maxwell for his nephew and heir, Robert Percevl-Maxwell. Designed in the “Jacobethan'”style by James Sands, it cost £6,000 to build using sandstone from Ayrshire. It was converted into apartments at the start of the 21st century.
Groomsport Church was built in 1841 as a “Chapel of Ease” for Bangor Parish. The parish of Groomsport was created in 1853. The church was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and was originally a simple rectangular building with a tower. It was extended twice. In 1909, the chancel was added (on the left) in memory of Robert Perceval Maxwell and in the 1930s the transepts were added to create more space for the congregation.
The Lodge was built in 1865, opposite the Parish Church, to accommodate the first rector of Groomport. After he left the village in 1880, the Lodge was the home of Mrs Selina Perceval-Maxwell the widow of Robert Perceval-Maxwell’s eldest son, John. After her death in 1928 the Preceval-Maxwell family sold the Lodge.
When Robert Perceval-Maxwell built the Maxwell Hall in 1894, it was recorded as being a Sunday School. The Maxwell Hall has been the home of Groomsport Masonic Lodge since 1911. After the deaths of the Misses Perceval-Maxwell, who were the trustees of the Hall, in the 1920s, it was gifted to the Parish Church. The painting shows the original hall to which a number of extensions have been added over the years.
The Presbyterian Church was built in the centre of the village in 1843. The Clock tower was added about 20 years later and the church was extended to the rear in the 1970s.
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
DISCOVER THE VILLAGE
ESCAPING THE PRAM
Maureen Irwin shares her first memory of life on The Hill. She was daring and outgoing even in the early 1940s!
MEMORIES OF MAIN STREET
David and Maureen Irwin recall the people and places that made Groomsport special when they first arrived in 1966.
MEMORIES OF THE MANSE
David and Maureen Irwin remember the Manse that was their Groomsport home from 1966-1991. They recall good times–and a big bonfire.